The trick is, most of our money is either tied up in stock or in a TSP account.

I do stocks and index funds, but I have no idea where to start for real estate.

I wouldn't call it a transformation or gentrification, but it's decent working people looking for honest housing stock. 

My guess is in many cases it costs you about $1000 to get a license and maybe $3000/year to maintain it.   

For the recipient to maintain the asset they would need to bring the mortgage current otherwise the bank would go through with the forclosure and take possession of the property.

My best advice would be to first of all make sure they don’t make you sign a one year property management agreement, otherwise you will be stocked to them for a year even if you don’t like them (getting out will cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars).

Not just because someone does not pay their bills.The number one way to maintain and increase your ROI is finding the right tenant.

Here in the Bay Area, a lot of tech employees get >50% of their compensation in the form of Restricted Stock Units, that sometimes works, sometimes does not. 

Same goes for stock trading!

On the one hand, as long as we aren't significantly losing money on a month to month basis I feel it best to maintain the property purely from an appreciation standpoint (strong location close to the a large medical center) with an dramatic increase in housing.